If not (or so) what are some other sources that are good for finding distressed homes (outside of bird dog) and investors to scoop them up?  

But it is a lot of work, marketing or "bird dogging," and a lot of persistence..

That goes for bird dogging as well. 

Welcome Jacob,You may want to consider Bird Dogging for someone for a while.  

I am trying my hand at commercial properties to bird dog.

I also have the most adorable Bernese Mountain Dog mix you've ever seen.I look forward to continuing to read everything going on here, learning as much as possible, and hopefully meeting some great people.

I guess I'm bird-dogging for investors.What type of paperwork would I need to solidify the agreement?

I'm looking to buy my new batch of properties so please get in contact with me so we potentially get things going. I listen to Bigger pockets everyone morning and I love the enthusiasm and community! I've been investi...

When someone comes to my door, misses/ignores the "NO SOLICITING" sign, knocks on the door/rings the doorbell, causes my dog to start going crazy, and wakes up my napping 3 and 1 year old, I feel like committing egregious acts of violence upon their person...and I'm normally a pretty calm and even-keeled guy.I don't look at people going door to door as "hustling"...they are either a) trying to rip people off, b) casing a neighborhood, c) getting signatures for a stupid cause, or (the WORST) d) soliciting for some ******* running for office.  

@Jerry Poon I use craigslist, bird dogs, wholesalers, driving for dollars, county court steps for bank foreclosures, and postcards to absentee owners.